Agenda and minutes

The meeting will commence with a short service of prayers.

The meeting opened with prayers led by the Mayor’s Chaplain, Pastor Mark Madavan of the Locks Heath Free Church in Titchfield Common.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors G Fazackarley, M J Ford, JP and D L Steadman.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 12 December 2013.

RESOLVED that the Mayor be authorised to sign as a correct record the minutes of the Council held on 12 December 2013.

The Mayor welcomed members of the public to the special meeting of the Council and thanked Councillors for assembling in the different location of Ferneham Hall.

The Mayor then explained the process to be followed for the meeting.

The Executive Leader provided an update on the effects of the recent severe weather across the Borough of Fareham.

He stated that during December 2013, the areas affected by heavy rain and flooding were Mill Lane and Bridge Street in Titchfield, Mays Lane in Stubbington, the village of Wallington and Standard Way and Wallington Shore Road in Wallington. The Executive Leader confirmed that there had been no evacuations as the flood issues were successfully dealt with by Hampshire Highways and the Environment Agency. He also commented that the flood defences provided to the residents of Wallington had worked extremely well.

The council had also provided sandbags to a number of properties affected by the flooding but this was done on a priority basis given the limited stocks held by Fareham as a district council.

The Executive Leader gave details of wind damage experienced during December including a smashed glass panel on the side of the Civic Offices which required boarding up, several trees blown down obstructing highways for which Hampshire County Council had the responsibility to clear and a number of other trees blown down in areas across the Borough.

During the Christmas break the Emergency Control Centre was set up in the Civic Offices in preparation to respond to an emergency. During this period 156 calls were received by the on-call corporate standby officers, who were able to assure residents that the council was ready to support them if needed.

The Executive Leader advised that the Borough had been affected on a number of occasions during January and February due to surface flooding caused by heavy downpours, high spring tides and tidal surges. He confirmed that the council had arranged for sandbags to be delivered to various areas to assist residents, including Lower Quay and Bridge Cottage in East Street, Titchfield.

The council had also been liaising with the Environment Agency and the East Solent Coastal Partnership to provide advice and assistance where required. The council kept in close contact with the Wallington Village Association when flood warnings and alerts were issued in this area.

The Executive Leader confirmed that during the recent severe weather the council had liaised with Hampshire County Council and the Environment Agency through the Response Working Group set up at Netley to manage and coordinate the emergency response for the County.

He also advised that due to the severe gale force wind warnings a number of Fareham town centre Monday markets were cancelled for public safety.

The Executive Leader concluded by recording his thanks to the council officers who reacted extremely well and to the members of the public within the communities who stepped up to deal with the effects of the severe weather.

There were no announcements from Executive Members made at this meeting.

To receive any declarations of interest from members in accordance with Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct and disclosures of advice or directions received from Group Leaders of Political Groups, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

Councillor A Mandry declared a non-pecuniary interest for item 11as he is a personal friend of the owner of Carriston Cottage which is referenced at page 186 of Appendix A to the report. Councillor Mandry remained present at the meeting and took part in the debate.

Councillor Mrs K Mandry declared a non-pecuniary interest for item 11 as she is a personal friend of the owner of Carriston Cottage which is referenced at page 186 of Appendix A to the report. Councillor Mrs Mandry remained present at the meeting and took part in the debate.

Councillor T G Knight declared a non-pecuniary interest for item 11 as he is a personal friend of the owner of Carriston Cottage which is referenced at page 186 of Appendix A to the report. Councillor Knight remained present at the meeting and took part in the debate.

To receive any deputations of which notice has been given.

The Council received a deputation from Mrs P Smith in relation to item 11 – Development Sites and Policies Plan – Plan for Publication and was thanked accordingly.

The Council received a deputation from Mr S Cunningham in relation to item 10 – Welborne Plan: Pre-Submission Draft and was thanked accordingly.

The minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 6 January 2014 and 10 February 2014 were presented to the Council.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Executive meeting held on 6 January 2014 be received.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)       the minutes of the Executive meeting held on 10 February 2014 be received; and

(b)       the recommendations of the Executive contained in minute 11(1): Local Plan Part 3: The Welborne Plan – Publication Plan be noted and considered later in this agenda under item 10;

(c)       the recommendations of the Executive contained in minute 11(2): Local Plan Part 2: Development Sites and Policies – Publication Plan be noted and considered later in this agenda under item 11;

(d)       the recommendations of the Executive contained in minute 12(2): Finance Strategy, Capital Programme, Revenue Budget and Council Tax 2014/15 be noted and held over for consideration at the next meeting of the Council scheduled for 21 February 2014;

(e)       the recommendations of the Executive contained in minute 12(3): Housing Revenue Account Spending Plans, including the Capital Programme for 2104/5 be noted and held over for consideration at the next meeting of the Council scheduled for 21 February 2014; and

(f)        the recommendations of the Executive contained in minute 12(5): Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Indicators 2014/15 be noted and held over for consideration at the next meeting of the Council scheduled for 21 February 2014.

A report by the Director of Planning and Environment

The comments of the deputation were taken into account during the consideration of this item (see minute 8 above).

Having been duly proposed and seconded, it was RESOLVED that the provisions of Standing Order 19.4 be suspended to allow the Executive Member for Planning and Development to speak on this item for longer than five minutes and the Spokesman for the opposition group speak for not more than ten minutes; and further that Standing Order 19.5 be suspended to allow the Executive Member for Planning and Development to speak more than once in order to respond to points raised in debate.

The Council considered the Executive’s recommendations concerning the Welborne Plan: Pre-Submission Draft, referred to at Minute 9(2) above.

It was proposed by Councillor S D T Woodward and seconded by Councillor T Cartwright that the Council accepts the recommendations of the Executive.

On the proposals being put to the meeting following a debate, it was declared CARRIED with 19 members voting in favour, 4 members voting against and 3 members abstaining.

RESOLVED that the recommendations of the Executive be accepted and accordingly the Council approves:

(a)     that the Local Plan Part 3: Welborne Plan - Publication Plan, as set out in Appendix A, be published for a six-week representation period commencing at 1700hrs on Friday 28 February until 1700hrs on Friday 11 April 2014, together with supporting documents including the Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulation Assessment;

(b)     that the Director of Planning and Environment, in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Development, be authorised to make any necessary minor amendments to the Plan, prior to publication, provided that these do not change the overall direction, shape or emphasis of the document, and do not raise any significant new issues;

(c)     that the Director of Planning and Environment, in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Development, be authorised, following the completion of the representation period, to submit the Plan to the Secretary of State (together with any necessary minor modifications that are required to ensure legal compliance and/or “soundness”); and

(d)     that the Local Plan Part 3: Welborne Plan - Publication Plan, be endorsed as interim guidance to be afforded due weight in the determination of planning applications.

A report by the Director of Planning and Environment

The comments of the deputation were taken into account during the consideration of this item (see minute 8 above).

Councillors A Mandry, Mrs K Mandry and T G Knight each declared a non-pecuniary interest for this item as they are each a personal friend of the owner of Carriston Cottage which is referenced at page 186 of Appendix A to the report. The Councillors remained present at the meeting and took part in the debate.

Having been duly proposed and seconded, it was RESOLVED that the provisions of Standing Order 19.4 be suspended to allow the Executive Member for Planning and Development to speak on this item for longer than five minutes and the Spokesman for the opposition group speak for not more than ten minutes; and further that Standing Order 19.5 be suspended to allow the Executive Member for Planning and Development to speak more than once in order to respond to points raised in debate.

The Council considered the Executive’s recommendations concerning the Development Sites and Policies – Publication Plan, referred to at Minute 9(2) above.

It was proposed by Councillor S D T Woodward and seconded by Councillor T Cartwright that the Council accepts the recommendations of the Executive, including the tabled amendments to Chapter 4, paragraph 4.6 regarding Policy DSP7 being incorporated to Appendix A.

During the debate on the item, Councillor A Mandry referred to Policy DSP 47:Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople and proposed an amendment to the publication plan to delete any references to the site known as The Retreat, Newgate Lane from Policy DSP 47 and its supporting text (pages 92-94) and the development brief (pages 185-186).

Following a debate on the amendment, and on the proposal being put to the meeting, it was declared LOST, 3 members voting in favour, 21 members voting against and 2 members abstaining.

On the proposals being put to the meeting following a further debate, it was declared CARRIED unanimously.

RESOLVED that the recommendations of the Executive be accepted and accordingly the Council approves:

(a)       that the Local Plan Part 2: Development Sites and Policies - Publication Plan, as set out in Appendix A, be published for a six-week representation period commencing at 1700hrs on Friday 28 February  until 1700hrs on Friday 11 April 2014, together with supporting documents including the Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulation Assessment, subject to the tabled amendments to Chapter 4, paragraph 4.6 regarding Policy DSP7 being incorporated to the publication plan at Appendix A;

(b)       that the Director of Planning and Environment, in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Development, be authorised to make any necessary minor amendments to the Plan, prior to publication, provided that these do not change the overall direction, shape or emphasis of the document, and do not raise any significant new issues;

(c)       that the Director of Planning and Environment, in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Development, be authorised, following the completion of the representation period, to submit the Plan to the Secretary of State (together with any necessary minor modifications that are required to ensure legal compliance and/or ‘soundness’); and

(d)     that the Local Plan Part 2: Development Sites and Policies - Publication Plan, be endorsed as interim guidance to be afforded due weight in the determination of planning applications.